Delcam's Healthcare Division to showcase new OrthoModel software in Arizona & Harrogate

Delcam's orthotics design software goes trans-Atlantic.

Delcam's Healthcare Division will be demonstrating its OrthoModel software for the design and manufacture of orthotic insoles at events on both sides of the Atlantic during November. The software will be on show at the Desert Foot Conference in Tempe, Arizona, from 18th to 20th November and at the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists Annual Conference in Harrogate from 19th to 21st November.

The latest version of the software will be show, which has new options for the creation of anatomical orthotics. It also includes a new method to define heel lift, improved arch definition, greater flexibility when creating bespoke orthotics from standard models, and enhanced graphics and workflow to make the system even easier to use. All of the new functions have been added in response to requests from the various orthotics companies that are supporting the development of the system.

OrthoModel provides a complete solution for the design of high-quality insoles for both the comfort and medical markets. The entire process is driven by a series of easy-to-use menus, which incorporate terminology and imagery familiar to the industry to describe the various features of the orthotic. This makes it easy for medical and footwear professionals to use the software, even those having no previous computer experience. OrthoModel is completely "open” and can take data from any scanning system or use manual measurements from a prescription.

The new anatomical option allows scan data to be taken from part or all of the plantar scan representing the chosen sections of the sole and heel of the foot. This shape can then be reproduced exactly in the orthotic design to give the optimum contact area between the base of the foot and the device, and so spread the weight of the body as widely as required.

Most importantly, a smooth blend can be created between the contact area of the orthotic and the inside of the shoe, ensuring that the foot is matched correctly with the surface of the orthotic while walking. This is an essential requirement for patients with diabetes, as well as giving improved results for comfort orthotics.

The new option for heel lift gives extra versatility to the software. It can be used to compensate for different leg lengths in the patient or to create orthotics for high-heeled shoes.

The arch is one of the most critical areas within the foot. If it does not flatten sufficiently, it absorbs shock poorly, putting extra stress on the foot, especially on the heel. Alternatively, if the arch flattens too much, the foot will be unstable and the bones can become misaligned. Improved definition in this area within OrthoModel will give a more effective and more comfortable orthotic.

Many orthotics are purely accommodative and so do not require such high levels of customisation. In these cases, the designs are often created from a range of base models that can be adapted with add-ons or cut-outs for the individual patient. This approach has been further supported in the new release with an expanded library of components, plus the ability for the user to add their own shapes to this library.

In addition, it has been made possible for the design of these styles to be "batched.” This allows the operator to input prescriptions for a number of patients, together with the associated base model for each case. The software can then generate all the required designs in a continuous series of calculations. This process can even be carried out overnight, to give maximum productivity for the designer.